Neoinstitutional analysis of the Russian party system
This paper responds to weaknesses in the dissertation, which deals with the topic of a party programmatic constitution in Russia. Specifically, it addresses the problem of the dissertation? ...
Neoinstitutional analysis of the Russian party system
This paper responds to weaknesses in the dissertation, which deals with the topic of a party programmatic constitution in Russia. Specifically, it addresses the problem of the dissertation?s failure to adequately explain the current developments in the Russian party system, including the phenomenon of the party of power because of the limited research objects and variables. Therefore, this project includes one more party besides the two analysed parties in the dissertation and one more variable ? approach to administrative resources. These additions are intended to not only provide a more exact analysis of the current developments since 2003, but also introduce more theoretical complexity through the combined analysis with neoinstitutionalism. These results can then be generalized to apply to transitional societies.
This project deals with the topic of how a party programmatic system is constituted and tries to explain the factors that have a positive or negative influence on the process of developing a party programmatic system through the example of three Russian parties. As the additional research object?besides the Russian Communist Party and Jabloko, which have represented the two ideological counterparts in the Russian partisan spectrum?the party of power 'United Russia' is also analysed as a new and important factor that is significantly changing the political character of the Russian party system. The process of developing a party program is analysed through four variables, including party genesis, form of interaction between intraparty factions, approach to administrative resources and interparty competition strategy. The four variables are chosen from the aspect of neoinstitutionalism, which considers party programming as an institution in the forming process, in which the actor is not only influenced by the institution but also constitutes the institution . The rational, strategic and goal-oriented behavior of the actors is, therefore, one of the most important constructive factors in institutionalization. This theoretical viewpoint is especially useful in the analysis of transitional societies, where actors constitute new institutions.
The results of this analysis show the different approaches to development between the three parties and, in particular, the dynamic and unstable character of a programmatic constitution. The Russian Communist Party, formed as a relatively strong ideology-oriented party, is transforming to a catch-all party with a wide interpretative programmatic system. Jabloko was an elite party with a broad ideological orientation and a loose organization but it has acquired more of an ideological character since the middle of the 90s. The two parties share a commonality in that they have maintained their ideologic profile. In contrast to these two parties, a United Russia has the possibility to mobilize material and personal administrative resources and, therefore, has more of the character of a patronage party. The complex and dynamic character of party building might be maintained through the process of institutionalization of the Russian party system. This is even more likely if a party with strong administrative support like United Russia dominates the Russian party system more and more, as it would be more apt to stay a long period, specifically in the context of the authoritative political culture in Russia.
The result of this research verifies not only the hypotheses of the project but also the usefulness of the neoinstitutional analysis-model to be used in a transitional society like Russia. The different approaches to the development of the parties can be analysed, particularly within the context of the strategic behavior of the main actors.